If I had to choose just one cookie to eat, in all the world, it would be a soft, cakey sugar cookie with a toothsome layer of buttercream icing. The brand most associated with this decadent treat is probably the Lofthouse cookies found in supermarkets, those seductive goodies with a quarter-inch of frosting and a texture that melts in your mouth.

I have a guilty, quietly fervent love for these things, but I do think that their mass-made nature comes through in a chalky aftertaste. I would much rather find a way to make them myself, and these ten recipes all promise to help.

Here are five classic options for the cakey cookie and icing, with some minor variations on the recipe. One uses yogurt, another sour cream, and there's a mix of approaches on the shortening vs. butter question. The one thing they all have in agreement: sprinkles are essential.

I haven't tried any of these yet, but when I go on the hunt for the perfect soft and cakey sugar cookie, you'll be the first to know which one works best.

Have you tried any of these? And do you prefer the classic, or something with a twist, like the chocolate, pumpkin, or peanut butter variations below?

The Classic Cookie

Let's see if we can nail this down, shall we?

Perfect Frosted Sugar Cookies - A very promising recipe from Jaclyn at Cooking Classy. The cookies are made with a blend of shortening and butter.

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Faith is the executive editor of The Kitchn and the author of three cookbooks. They include The Kitchn Cookbook, coauthored with Sara Kate Gillingham, as well as Bakeless Sweets. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband Mike.